TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet


Conicalcita

Conicalcita is a mineral with formula CaCu(AsO₄)(OH), in the Arseniatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Previsión, Fiñana, Almería, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2024.

Conicalcita from Mina Previsión, Fiñana, Almería, Andalucía, España — Terrium

Description

Small dice-shaped piece coated with the characteristic green botryoidal habit of conichalcite. Very representative of the locality.

History of this specimen

Collected by "Meli", Amelia Molina, and given to me as a gift.

About Conicalcita

Conichalcite is a calcium copper arsenate. Here it occurs as globular coatings of very saturated green with a matt aspect.

About the locality

Finite material, no longer recoverable. These pieces were at the mine entrance, at the adit mouth, on a vein that looked like an arcade which was left for years so collectors and the curious could enjoy it—but one day it was found broken and no more can be taken. Mina Previsión is, or was, Spain’s most emblematic locality for this habit (grape-like) with that matt, saturated green on dark ferruginous matrix.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0334
Composition
CaCu(AsO₄)(OH)
Name
Conicalcita
Group
Arseniatos
Category
Meritum Persé
Matrix
Ferruginosa (Limonita/Goethita)
Mine
Mina Previsión
District / Municipality
Fiñana
Province
Almería
Region
Andalucía
Country
España
Size (cm)
1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5
Weight
14 g
Acquired
2024
Ex-collection
Amelia Molina
Etymology
From the Greek roots κονία (konis, dust) and χαλκος (chalkos, copper), chosen by Breithaupt and Fritzsche to reflect its physical appearance and metallic content.
Quality
Buena
Value trend
Estable

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